Voting In Iowa
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in Iowa:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information for election agencies.
Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.
For information on elections happening this year, click here.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration[edit]
Eligibility and registration details[edit]
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Iowa, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Iowa, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. A voter that is 17 years old may participate in a primary election if they will be 18 by the time of the next general election. The deadline to register is 15 days prior to the election but registration is permitted on Election Day with proof of identification.Iowans may register online or by completing a form and returning to their county auditor’s office by mail or in person.[1][2]
In-person voting[edit]
Poll times[edit]
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
In Iowa, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3][4]
Voter identification[edit]
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Iowa requires voters to present identification while voting. Voters who do not have a valid ID can obtain an Iowa voter ID card for free by mail.[5] According to the secretary of state's website, " Iowa Department of Transportation’s Driver’s License or Non-Operator ID files are automatically mailed an Iowa Voter Identification Card."[5][6]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Iowa Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
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Voters who do not have one of the IDs listed above may have another voter attest to their identity, or they may provide a combination of other documents to verify their identity and residence. The following additional documents are acceptable proof of identity:[2]
- Iowa non-operator ID
- Out-of-state driver's license or non-driver ID card
- ID card issued by employer
- Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college
- Another photo ID that is current, valid, and contains an expiration date
The following documents are acceptable proof of residence if a photo ID does not contain a voter's current address:[2]
- Residential lease
- Utility bill (including a cell phone bill)
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government check or other government document
- Property tax statement
Early voting[edit]
- See also: Early voting
Iowa permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by-mail in Iowa. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee. To vote absentee/by-mail, a request application must be received by the county auditor between 70 days before the election and 5 p.m. on the 15th day prior to the election. Voters must include one of the following: Iowa driver's license or non-operator ID number, voter ID/verification number, or the four-digit PIN from their voter ID card. Returned absentee ballots must be received by the time polls close on Election Day in order to be counted.[8]
Local election officials[edit]
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]
- See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony
Individuals convicted of a felony regain their right to vote upon completion of their sentence, including prison time, parole, and probation.[9] People convicted of felony homicide do not have their voting rights automatically restored. Instead, they must apply individually for restoration of voting rights by pardon.[9][10]
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[11]
Contact information[edit]
Election agencies[edit]
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Iowa can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Iowa County Auditor/Commissioner of Elections
- Click here for a list
Iowa Secretary of State Office
- First Floor, Lucas Building
- 321 E 12th St
- Des Moines, Iowa 50319
- Phone: 515-281-0145
- Toll free: 1-888-767-8683
- Fax: 515-281-4682
- Email: sos@sos.iowa.gov
- Website: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/
Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board
- Jessie Parker Building
- 510 E. 12th St, Suite 1A
- Des Moines, Iowa 50319
- Phone: 515-281-4028
- Fax: 515-281-4073
- Email: ethicsboard@iowa.gov
- Website: https://ethics.iowa.gov
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia[edit]
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Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2026
See also[edit]
- State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
- Voter ID in Iowa
- Election administration in Iowa
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Iowa
Elections in Iowa[edit]
- Iowa elections, 2025
- Iowa elections, 2024
- Iowa elections, 2023
- Iowa elections, 2022
- Iowa elections, 2021
- Iowa elections, 2020
- Iowa elections, 2019
- Iowa elections, 2018
- Iowa elections, 2017
- Iowa elections, 2016
- Iowa elections, 2015
- Iowa elections, 2014
External links[edit]
- Official state election website
- U.S. Vote Foundation election official lookup tool
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed July 21, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Iowa Secretary of State, "Election Day Registration," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Find Your Polling Place," accessed July 21, 2025
- ↑ The Iowa Legislature, "I.C.A. § 49.74," accessed July 21, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Iowa Secretary of State, "Voter ID FAQ," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Iowa Voter Identification Requirements," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Absentee Voting," accessed July 21, 2025
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Office of the Governor of Iowa, "Gov. Reynolds signs Executive Order to restore voting rights of felons who have completed their sentence," August 5, 2020
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons," accessed July 21, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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